← Oakland
OPEN CALL: FOUNDING OAKLAND ARTISTS.
We are commissioning and acquiring work for the founding exhibitions of the Museum for Black Girls at Jack London Square, opening Fall 2026. Artists are paid. Deadline: Rolling · reviewed monthly through opening.
About this call
Oakland writes this chapter.
The Oakland museum will open with rooms that are immersive, tactile, and personal — and none of them work without artists from here. We are seeking existing work and new proposals across every discipline.
Selected artists join a founding cohort: paid, credited, documented, and involved in how their work is installed and interpreted. This is not a call for free content or unpaid exposure.
Disciplines we're seeking
Painting & Mixed Media
Photography
Sculpture & Installation
Textile & Fiber
Digital & New Media
Hair & Beauty Artistry
Performance & Sound
Poetry & Spoken Word
Muralism
Archival & Oral History
Eligibility
- Open to artists at every stage — no MFA, gallery history, or representation required.
- Priority to artists based in Oakland and the greater Bay Area.
- Work should speak to Black womanhood, girlhood, memory, or the history of this city.
- Existing work and new proposals are both welcome.
- Collectives and collaborative practices may apply as one applicant.
What we provide
- Artist honorarium for every selected work — we do not ask for free labor.
- Professional installation, lighting, and condition care by museum staff.
- Documentation photography and video of your installed work.
- Promotion across our social community and to Bay Area press.
- Opening weekend reception, artist talk slot, and travel support where needed.
- Retail and print opportunities through The Corner.
Timeline
From submission to opening night.
- NowSubmissions open — rolling review
- MonthlyCuratorial committee reviews new submissions
- Ahead of openingFounding cohort notified and contracted
- Fall 2026Installation, artist talks, opening weekend
Submission form
Tell us about your practice.
Only name, email, and a description of your work are required. Everything else helps, but leave blank what doesn't apply.